To End A Civil War: London Book Launch

The launch of my new book To End A Civl War: Norway’s Peace Engagement in Sri Lanka, published by Hurst, was held in London on Weds 28 October 2015. A series of European launch events was held over the following month in London, Oslo and Stockholm, followed by events in North America (Toronto, Ottawa, Washington DC) in January 2016.

South Asian launches were held in Colombo (3 March), Chennai 7 March) and Delhi (8 March).

The launch is being hosted by the London University School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)’sCentre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD). As this is a public event – and the venue is spacious – you are more than welcome to invite friends, inform others who may be interested etc. in the event. All welcome!

“Between 1983 and 2009 the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger guerillas engaged in a bitter civil war, with the Tigers’ goal of an independent Tamil polity the key issue of contention. “The conflict’s end came in May 2009 with the Tigers’ crushing defeat at the hands of the Sri Lankan army. Prior to this grim finale, however, for some time there had been hope for a peaceful end to the conflict. Starting with a ceasefire agreement in early 2002, for almost five years a series of Norwegian-mediated peace talks between the two sides took place in locations ranging from Thailand and Japan to Norway, Germany and Switzerland. “The book tells the story of how the process of trying to bring peace to Sri Lanka unfolded. In particular it tells the story of how a faraway European nation – Norway – came to play a central role in efforts to end the conflict, and what its small, dedicated team of mediators did in their untiring efforts to reach what ultimately proved the elusive goal of a negotiated peace. “While some aspects of Norway’s role have been documented elsewhere, the deeper story of that involvement has not yet been told. This book tells that story. In the process it fills a critical gap in our understanding of the Sri Lankan conflict, and highlights lessons the Norwegian mediation effort may offer for internationally-supported attempts to end conflicts elsewhere.” ————————-The outline programme is given below: 1430-1500 hrs Tea and registration 1500-1505 hrs Introduction by the Chair AmbLalit Mansingh 1505-1525 hrs An Outline of the Book – Mark Salter (the author) 1525-1540 hrs Major Issues and Lessons – Erik Solheim 1540-1555 hrs Indian Perspective – MR Narayan Swamy Executive Editor, IANS 1555-1650 hrs Discussion 1650-1700 hrs Closing Remarks by the Chair 1700 – 1730 hrs Tea/coffee

ABOUT THE MAIN SPEAKERS

Mark Salter is a writer, researcher and independent consultant. A teacher and BBC journalist by training, over the last 25 years he has worked in a wide range of professional settings including international NGOs, research institutes, and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). His work focuses on issues of democracy, conflict, reconciliation, and diversity management. For 10 years he served as a senior staff member of International IDEA, an inter-governmental organization supporting democratic consolidation around the world of which India is a founder member-state. In that capacity he was centrally involved in policy and advocacy initiatives with a wide range of organizations including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA),Open Society Institute (OSI) and Indian Institute of Advanced Studies (IIAS). Mr. Salter recently authored To End a Civil War, a book that focuses on Norway’s mediation efforts in Sri Lanka during its Civil War.

Erik Solheim took the lead of the main body of world donors, the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), in January 2013. Since becoming Chair he has emphasized reform of the Official Development Assistance, focusing more assistance to the least developed countries. Mr. Solheim also serves as the United Nations Environment Programme’s special envoy for environment, conflict, and disaster. Prior to his current post, Mr. Solheim served as Norway’s Minister of the Environment of International Development and as Minister of International Development. He has played a pivotal role for climate and the environment. Mr. Solheim established the UN REDD, a global coalition to conserve the world’s rain forests. As such, he is the recipient of many awards, including the UNEP’s “Champion of Earth” Award.